It Takes Two (Italian Summer Book 1) (12 page)

Chapter 17

“If you could tell Ava,” said Nico in a serious tone, “I’d be grateful. I haven’t had much success imparting the importance of the dress though I’d marry her in her tracksuit bottoms if it came down to it.”

“It might yet come to that,” threatened Ava, resting her hand over her bump.

They were sitting around the large rosewood dining table in the home Ava now lived in with Nico. They had insisted she come over for dinner and had invited Lizzi as well.

Rona looked at her sister with surprise. “You haven’t gone for another dress fitting yet?” Was this really the same woman who’d gone over the top with her preparations when she was going to marry Connor?

“The dress fits,” Ava insisted. “Or rather, it did when I tried it on a few months ago. I should have had it elasticated all the way; it would have saved so much trouble, the constant re-stitching. It’s a shame I can’t turn up in my yoga pants.” Ava winked at Rona, clearly enjoying the serious look on Nico’s face.

“I intend to get married once, and it will be forever. Please, if you could make an effort and ditch the yoga pants, I’ll be eternally in your debt.” Nico said, reaching out for a glass of water.

Ava sobered up, touched by his words. “No yoga pants. I want to look amazing, but I can’t promise you on account of my condition.” Her eyes glistened and Rona felt once more like a third party at a dinner for two.

“You would look amazing wrapped up in brown paper and weighing a ton,” he assured her.

Ava reached out and placed her hand on his. “That’s why I love this man so much,” Ava told her. “He always says the right things.”

Rona beamed at them both. Watching them, as she had these past few weeks, she had seen their relationship first hand and had come to understand the deep love and respect the two of them had for one another.

Her relationship with Carlos has been more like fire and ice; lots of fiery love and passion during the good times and a cold distance when things weren’t so good.

Not that Nico and Ava’s relationship was plain sailing all the time—it wasn’t. She’d seen that first-hand too, but they connected at some deep level. Their cold spells didn’t last anywhere near as long as hers and Carlos’s did.

Perhaps because their relationship was new. Though, Rona remembered, with a touch of guilt, she and Carlos had been up and down from the start. They argued as ferociously as they made up. But there was no point in comparing their relationship to anyone else’s. Each person was unique and it made perfect sense that every relationship would be too.

“I promise I will make time for another fitting soon.”

Rona sat up. “Your wedding is less than four weeks away. Did you know that?”

“I still have four weeks,” Ava insisted.

“You’re taking things too slowly and you’re much too relaxed about it all. It’s completely the opposite of last time.”

A silence fell upon the room as though the red velvet curtain had just lifted for a performance.

“This isn’t like last time,” murmured Ava, as Nico squeezed her hand. “I don’t need anything else. I’d marry Nico tomorrow in a simple ceremony. The details don’t matter.”

“As long as it’s not the same dress—it doesn’t matter,” added Nico.

They brushed over the ‘other’ wedding as though it was insignificant, which it was.

“Did you get all the paperwork sorted?” asked Ava.

“I’m on it,” replied Nico, moving his hand away and picking up his wine glass. “I’d rather not talk about it either.”

Rona’s eyebrows snapped together.

“Apparently there’s a lot of paperwork to sign and forms to fill in. And being as pregnant as I am doesn’t bode too well for marrying in a church.” Ava explained.

Rona looked to Nico for clarification.

“I’d like to get married in the same church where my parents were married but we might have some convincing to do. It’s a shame the priest can’t be bought.” Nico winked at Ava.

“I hope you didn’t go there,” said Ava, horrified.

Nico shook his head. “Sweetheart, what do you take me for?”

With her features relaxing once more, Ava sat back in her chair. “It’s going to be extremely hot and I’m going to be huge, and I think he’s invited the entire village. Isn’t that right, Nico?”

“They’d have turned up anyway, with or without an invitation.”

“But what about the invites and the catering and the—” Rona was lost for words; she didn’t know where to start. They spent every day working on the business, going through things with Kim. Rona took care of the website and other admin tasks Ava had for her, while Ava visited suppliers and analyzed her figures. Only today she’d been putting the final changes to the procedures manual she had been putting together. They had met with Andrea and ordered another batch of products and then had a long conference call with Kim who seemed to be coping with the orders by herself. Nothing went out more than two days late. Even Rona was impressed.

Knowing exactly how much Ava had to deal with on a daily and weekly basis, Rona knew that unless her sister was given an extra six hours in the day she wouldn’t find the time to deal with all things wedding related.

“It helps being married to a man who owns hotels,” Ava told her. “Nico has all the contacts and we delegated tasks months ago. Everything is sorted out.”

“We just have to turn up,” Nico announced. “Assuming I can convince the priest to marry us in the church.”

“When’s Elsa coming?” Nico asked.

“A week before your big day,” Rona replied.

“And Carlos?” Ava asked.

“He said he could just about get a week off. He was going to come a few days before.”

“I wish he could take more time off,” remarked Ava.

Rona said nothing.

“Things are working out in the US, with Kim?” Nico asked.

Ava made a grumbling noise. “Sort of. Kim is running the show and keeping it all together, thank goodness, but I’m not so sure about some of the products.” Rona knew that Kim had mentioned that the customer complaints had started up regarding the products she’d sourced from one of the new suppliers.

Rona piped up. “You need to find some new suppliers because apart from Andrea and Geraldino, the other one just doesn’t have good quality products.” Ava rubbed her belly, unconsciously, and it reminded Rona of when she did that when she’d carried Tori. Self-conscious, she placed her hand over her smooth stomach.

“I know,” said Ava, looking worried. “It’s going to take a while.”

“At least the other two suppliers are good,” said Rona, trying to be positive.

“I know things are going to be hectic up until the wedding but don’t forget we’re going to have a relaxing honeymoon. And that means no work.” Nico reminded her.

Ava wiped her hand over her forehead; she had a ton of things she was juggling right now and Rona admired her. She herself had given up her job when she was seven months pregnant and she’d had two months of taking it easy before Tori had arrived.

“Are you going anywhere nice?” asked Rona, feeling excited as though she was the one who was going.
Of course, it would be somewhere nice.
Somewhere wonderful, she imagined.

“I don’t know. He won’t tell me,” said Ava, batting her eyelashes at Nico.

“I don’t want you dialing in, logging on, calling in, or checking figures. It’s going to be you and me and nothing else. Did you sort out your arrangements?”

“I’d say the same to you. Mr. Can’t-Live-Without-His-iPhone.” She smiled sweetly at him then added, “I’ve asked Rona to stay on until we return.”

Nico bowed his head at her. “Thank you so much.” His expression was trapped between an apology and relief.

“It’s not a problem,” said Rona quickly. It meant that she got to stay on until the start of September. Extra time in Verona was never a problem, though Carlos might not be too happy about it, especially when he realized that Tori’s first birthday would take place in Italy.

“Thank you,” said Nico. “Once we get back I’ll most likely go to Denver sometime at the end of September to look at the warehouse situation.”

“Thank you for doing that,” said Ava.

“It’s not a problem. You can’t go, and so it makes sense for me to.”

“Isn’t your new hotel opening a few months later?” Rona asked.

“Yes. I can take care of both.” He insisted.

Ava rested her hand against her forehead. “It’s crazy.”

“The only time you’ll get to put your feet up is when you’re giving birth,” said Rona.

“Your sister takes too much on,” commented Nico.

“She can’t help it,” acknowledged Rona.

“I’m hoping that two days away next week will make up for it.”

Ava scowled. “What two days?” She groaned and then remembered. “I had arranged meetings with new suppliers.”

“You’ll just have to postpone them. It’s only two days. You should go and take a little time off while you can.”

“That’s advice coming from a mother,” said Nico. “I think you should take it, besides, I need your opinion. I’d like you to see where we are with the new hotel. The infinity pools are going in and the treatment rooms are being done. I need you to cast your eye over it since your taste is impeccable.”

Ava reluctantly agreed, but Rona could see her sister’s mind working furiously as she seemed to weigh up what missing two days would mean.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on things.” Rona did her best to assure her sister, though she still wasn’t sure how much help she was being. Of course she was now comfortable with maintaining the website and checking figures and inventory and all those other things that she once thought would be too hard. But she could have done a lot of this work back in Denver. She didn’t need to be here specifically. Though Ava obviously thought otherwise. However she was helping, it made Rona feel good that she had been of some use.

Nico drove them back home, and as Rona put Tori to bed, she couldn’t help but wonder whether those two days without Ava around would mean she could spend the evenings with Ruben.

Chapter 18

“If you’re sure you’re okay with it. Otherwise, if it’s a problem, we can leave it,” suggested Rona, anxiously. She’d held off going out yesterday, but with Ava and Nico back tomorrow, this was as good an opportunity as any.

Lizzi shook her head and assured Rona. “It is not a problem. I enjoy looking after this little one.”

“I won’t be long,” Rona promised. “I thought I would meet a friend and …” her voice trailed off. She was explaining too much and Lizzi wasn’t interested. She had already swept Tori up in her arms and was making circles in the air with her daughter held securely in her arms.

“You look beautiful,” Lizzi commented as she sat on the floor cross-legged, with Tori banging a wooden stick on the xylophone.

“Thank you,” replied Rona. She’d taken off her tight fitting top, considering it too tight and too clingy, and put on a loose fitting shirt instead, with a pair of jeans. The only thing dressy about her tonight was her chunky bronze bracelet. She’d even convinced herself to ditch the large earrings.

She heard the sound of Ruben’s car horn. “Your friend is here,” said Lizzi, and Rona gave her an uncomfortable grimace as she kissed Tori.

“Enjoy yourself,” Lizzi told her. The fact that Tori appeared not in the slightest bit interested that Rona was leaving gave her some comfort.

She rushed out of the house and saw Ruben waiting for her in the car. Even as she walked towards it, there was something different about him.

“Hi,” she said breathlessly, climbing into his black Lancia. He did a double take when he saw her. It was a slight jerk of his head, but enough for her to notice. “You look amazing.” He stared ahead of him while she put the seatbelt on.

Maybe the less-is-more mantra really did work. He’d never been so vocal about her appearance before and his compliment lifted her mood.

She gave him a sideways glance and it tripped her heart a little. “You really do look stunning,” he told her.

She shifted in her seat.

“Too much?” he asked, starting the car up again,

“A little,” she replied, making an effort to smile. She sensed that he understood. Compliments like these pushed the boundaries of their easy friendship.

“Sorry,” and with that he drove off.

They sat in silence for a while, and Rona’s thoughts turned to Tori and Lizzi. For a moment, she had reservations about leaving her baby alone. Lizzi was good and she obviously trusted her, but Ava and Nico weren’t around either. What if something happened?

Her once relaxed mood fell away as unease grappled with her insides.

“We could try somewhere different tonight—if you want?” Ruben suggested.

She wondered if she’d done the right thing by going out tonight. By going out with him.

“Rona?” he asked.

“Huh?” she looked at him, but her mind was still back at the pensione.

“You look worried. Are you worried about your baby?”

She tried to smile. Why was she so anxious? She’d never been so anxious before?

“We can turn back if you want.” He slowed the car down and pulled over to the side.

She was being silly. Of course Tori would be fine. The pensione was safe enough. Lizzi had a mobile, they had each other’s numbers. She was being paranoid without good reason.

“Let’s go.” She said, being decisive. His eyes lit up and he started the engine up again.

“Shall we try somewhere different?”

“You mean
not
go to Gioberti’s?” It wouldn’t be a bad thing.

He nodded.

There was something different about him tonight. After stealing another furtive glance at him she realized what it was. He didn’t look as casual, it was almost as though he’d spruced himself up a little. His hair, normally thick and springy, seemed shorter, more groomed.

“Have you had a haircut?” she asked, curious.

“Is it that obvious?” He asked, embarrassed.

She nodded. “It suits you. It looks neater.”

“Salesmen have to look sharp,” he said, getting over his embarrassment. A part of her wondered if he’d made an effort just for her.

“Especially those selling such expensive software solutions to their clients,” she joked.